Case and drawer for files



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. J. HOFFMAN.

CASE AND DRAWER FOR FILES. No. 455,251. Patented June30, 1891;

Fly] 12%? Ri a/(1 Fax 7/ f o F Fag. r? 1' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Model) H. J. HOFFMAN.

GASE AND DRAWER FOR FILES.

Patented June 30,1891.

m NORRAS ruins m, PuoT0-L|TH6., WASHINGTON, n. c

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I 11.5. HOFFMAN.

CASE AND DRAWER FORFI'LES. No. 455,251. Patented June so, 1891. 2 .20 HF6427 5 I 6'' V J l4:

rz zz. I

memes Inventor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE.

HORACE JOSEPH HOFFMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASE AND DRAWER FOR FILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 455,251, dated June30, 1891.

Application filed January 2,1890. Serial rt. 335,728- (ModeL) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, HORACE JOSEPH HOFF- MAN, of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements inCases and Drawers for Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cases and drawers fOlfilGS; andit consists in various details of construction combined in a manner tomaterially add to the strength of the parts, to prevent any damage tothe files arising from dust, smoke, or vermin, and provide for a morerapid and convenient inspection of the papers. improvements will beapparent from the hereinafter-detailed description, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a partiallybroken perspective view of therigid member.

of the case-frame. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the sides and top of mycase as cut from a single piece of sheet metal before bending to shape,the lines of bends being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the case side bent to shape. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the rear plate of the case. Fig. 5 is a plan of thebottom plate before bending the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of thesame bent. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a shelf. Fig. Sis a section of thesame on line a: a: of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the shelf.Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a partition-plate. Fig. 11 is a top viewof the same. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the completed case withparts broken ont,showing the arrangement of the same in relation to eachother. Fig. 13 is a detail. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the drawer-blankas coming out of the die and before being bent up to shape, as shown inthe following figure. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the case anddrawer. Fig.16is a plan view of the drawer. Figs. 1'7, 18, and 19 aredetails on an enlarged scale. Fig. 20 is a rear elevation of the drawer.Fig. 21 is a rear view of the drawer cross-sectioned on line was of Fig.16; and Fig. 22 is a partially-broken elevation View of a case, showingdrawers hanging in front thereof.

The rigid frame A has its top and bottom members perforated, as shown ata, to receive These results of mythe pigeon-hole rods B, the head of thelatter being tapered down to wholly lodge into the countersunk uppermember of the frame. The lower ends-of the rods B are to be hammereddown against the lower face of the bottom member after all of theconstituent parts of the case have been put together.

I may use two rigid frames A, one at the (-0 front and the other at therear; but I may also dispense with the frame at the back in cases ofsmalldimensions, asl may also use a third frame in exceptionallylarge-sized cases, their object being to give to the sheet-metal body ofthe case the requisite strength and stability. The sides and top of thelatter are cut out in a single piece in the shape shown in Fig. 2. c 0being the sides and c the top.

The blank is cut at the corners and suitably notched opposite the lineof the bends to allow of the parts being bent up at right angles to eachother and form the channel 0 to embrace the side and top members of theframe A. The rear plate D is made with a flange (Z, bent at right anglesinward to cover the lower face of the rear frame A. The bottom plate Ehas a double fold at its front, forming a channel corresponding to thetop and sidechannels a The shelf F is provided with a flangefat thefront, and this flange is folded against the lower face of the shelf, aslight space being left, however, between the parts to lodge therein thedrawer-stop and dust-strip mentioned hereinafter. Theshelf is perforatedboth at the front and rear, as shown at f f, to receive the body of therods B, and the shelf-flange fis cut out opposite the perforations f'f'.The partition-plate G is cut with sufficient metal beyond that requiredby the depth of the case to form at each end a cylindrical or squarecolumn or pillar g, this latter to receive the body of the rod B and tosupport on its top edge the upper shelf, while it rests its foot againstthe 5 lower shelf or against the bottom plate E.

All the different parts of my improved case having been described, Iwill now point out the order of operation followed to put these partstogether. The rigid framesA are first put in IOO the position they areto occupy. The rods B are inserted in turn in the perforations a, theirlower end being passed on their way down through the columns g and theshelves F in succession from top to bottom. The bot tom plate E and rearplate I) are then put in position and the rods B passed clear downthrough them and the bottom perforations a of the lower frame members A.The top and side bent plates 0 are then put in position and the edges oftheir bottom flanges turned inward against the bottom plate. The lowerends of the rods B are then hammered against the bottom, and thuscomplete the construction of the case.

The body of the file-drawer consists of a single piece of sheet metalcut out and bent to shape by machinery, the part A of the blank to formthe bottom of the drawer and B and O the front and rear ends of thesame, respectively.

a a are the parts to be bent up at right angles to the bottom A, theirends to fit closely against the inner face of the parts B and C afterthese latter have been bent up at right angles with their flanges b 0"closing over the bottom flanges a, both parts being welded together orconnected by rivets.

To further strengthen the parts and to at the same time provide sideguards for the files, I propose to connect the front and rear ends B andO by the flat brace D, with its ends attached in any suitable manner tothe flanges b and c.

In the bottom A are out two rows of slots e e, and out of the metal tobe thus out enough is left on each side to form the ears e c the latterto be perforated and serve as hangers for the rollers E E, as also to inpartsupport the false bottom A The rollers are hung between the ears 6so that a small portion of their lower periphery projects below thedrawer, being thus adapted to rest and roll on the ease-shelf F. I formalso in the said bottom A on each side a semi-cylindrical channel h,projecting above the upper face of A, and at a slight distance oppositethe same a lug h is formed from the stock also. Through the channel 7Lis inserted the rear end of the wire spring 7' to abut against the lugh. The front portion of the spring j is provided with adownward-inclined latch or stop 2', which is received in the slot 7.:out in the drawer-bottom A.

\Vhen the case is constructed to receive the drawer, a slot 7c is cut inthe shelf F to coincide with the slot k of the drawer and allow of' thestop or latch z falling therein to lock the drawer when pushed inposition within the case. The wire springs j 7' project out through thefront 13, which has a slot 11 to allow of the lifting of the latch '6out of the slot to unlock the drawer. About an inch or so beyond thefront face of the part B the projecting ends of the springs jj areconnected in any suitable manner by the transverse bar B or this bar maybe madeintegral with the springs, as desired. The

rear part 0 is perforated both at the center and at each side to receivethe members C and C of the wire frame designed to carry the actuatingparts of the drawer. The members C and C may be made integral orconnected together in any suitable manner. I11 the form shown themembers are made of a single wire bent at the center, so as to give aloop a, through which the member C is passed and has its head rivetedover. The members C are then bent at right angles opposite theirrespective perforations and project therefrom through the drawer, orpartially so only, and are received through the perforated lugs 0 cutand bent up from the bottom A. The central rod after it has passedthrough the part 0, is received in a perforation of the oscillating orrocking piece N between the forked heel of the file-clamp N. Thisperforation n is enlarged all around from the central line of the rockerN, so that the rod C is immediately embraced only at the center of thesaid rocker. Around each of the wires (1 is wound the coil-spring 0 thefront end of which is abutted against thelug c", while the rear end ofthe same abuts against the washer 0', made fast in any suitable mannerto the rod or wire 0 The resiliency of these springs tend, to move thewire frame 0 C together with the file-clamp N, toward the drawers back,and the distance through which the clamp and frame can thus becarriedback is regulated by means of the washer c embracing the central rod Cand fastened thereon by the thumb-screw it is provided with. Both thisactuating mechanism, the rollers, and the locking device are separatedfrom the file-receiving portion of the drawer by means of the falsebottom A which is moreover formed so as to provide a guiding-slide b forthe forked heel of the clamp N.

In order to provide a self-hooking device to allow of the drawer beingtaken its full length out of the case, I use the flexible metallic pieceM, made slightly narrower than the part C and riveted on the front faceof the same at its lower end. This piece M projects slightly above thetop of C, and is then bent backward a half-inch or so, then bent upvertically for about a quarter-inch and back again on itself to theplane of its first bend for about three-eighths of an inch, its endbeing brought down vertically to form the hooking-edge m, the top bendserving as another hooking-edge m. In view of the pressure which theautomatically-moving-out drawer will have to meet from the top of itsback coming into contact with the shelf above it and to reduce the sameto a minimum a roller m is mounted on top of the flexible piece M justback of the hook m, the hangers for this roller being cut out and bentup from the piece M itself. I may use two rollers m one at each side,instead of one at the center, as shown, and in this case I may dispensewith the hooking-edge 'm', the front edges of the hangers being used forthe same purpose. Between the shelf F and its front flangef I propose toinsert an elastic strip 0, pressed and held therein by an angnlarlyflanged metal strip G, the vertical portion of which serves'twopurposes,

. First, the elastic strip O wliich hangs in front any suitable heightdesirable.

of the same, is held flat against its facewhen the drawers front com sin close contact with it, and, second, when the draweris pulled out itswhole length the strip-G opposes its rear face to the hook m'of thedrawer. The drawer-bottom will completely come out of the case when thehooking parts have come together; but its downward motion will bepromptly-arrested by the wire frame C G which then rests upon the shelfG. Around the rear bent por tion of this frame on each sideI may mountthe roller 0 to run on the shelf and prevent the drawer-heel bearingagainst any point of the shelf as it comes out of the case. When thedrawers are either too high or too low in the case to allow of aconvenient examination of their contents in front of their owncompartments, the hook on becomes serviceable. The

drawer is then completely taken out of the case and the hooking-edge mis slipped over the bar 13 which projects in front of all the drawers atThe rear face of the drawer-back rests then against the handle, attachedin any suitable manner in the center of the drawer-front.

The operation of the drawer is easily understood from the abovedescription and the accompanying drawings. The files having been alreadyput in position by the pushing of the drawer clear back into the casecauses the outward-proj ectin g ends of the wire frame (3 C to be forcedforward against its springs 3 5 j j and carry forward the clamp N,whereby I the files are compressed.

At the moment the felt or elastic strip 0 is met by the front of thedrawer the locking-latches 'L' i have come opposite the shelf-slots k kand falling there in secure the drawer with its front pressed tightlyagainst the strip 0, thus closing it hermetically and proof againstdust, soot, or vermin until it is desired to bring the drawer out, whichis done by aslight pull upward of the transverse bar B The drawer isthen rolled out in front of the pigeon-hole with the files or papersalready expanded. The rocking piece N in its normal position impingestightly on the edges of the rod C and obliges the clamp N to follow themovements of the wire frame, except when thesaid rocking piecel isheldin hand parallelwith the edges of the clamp to move it along the rod 0for more or less space, according to the number or thickness of thefiles in the drawer.

I may construct my drawer and case so as to do away with the lockingdevice and the automatic mechanism to eject the drawers. In thisinstance, to provide against the liebility of the drawer-front beinggradually thrown out of the case by jars, thus rendering the dust-stripineffectual, I propose to give to the case-shelf F aslight inclinedownward from the frontand to bend the front and rear of the drawer sothat its bottom corresponds to thatincline, as is shown in the lowerpart of Fig. 22. IVith this arrangement if anything should happen toshake or jar the case whatever slight motion the'drawer could therebyreceive would be instantaneously annulled, and the dust-strip would thusdo its duty without fail. be used without the rollers and without thedust-strip, according to circumstances.

In the construction of the hooking device, by means of which the draweris made to hang clear out of its pigeon-hole as needed for theconvenient examination of the files, I may without departing from thespirit of my invention transpose the acting parts and make the hook mstationary and the stop G movable, and the form shown for the movablepart M so used either at the rear of the drawer or at the front of theshelf may be variously modified and the displacement needed for itsefiect may be had through any suitable hingepivot or sliding attachmentwhatever.

The construction of the drawer may also be modified by substituting'thefalse bottom for the bottom proper and attaching it suitably to the sideflanges 00 a of the same, the rollers E depending then from or attachedto said bottom. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the channeled and flanged sides and top plate, therear and bot tom plates, the shelves extending from side to side of thecase, rods passing through the shelves at intervals both at the frontand rear, and upright partition plates held in placeby the rods betweenthe shelves and supporting the latter, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination of upright partitionplates having hollow columnsformed at each end, rods passing through the said columns and throughthe shelves at the front and rear, and the said shelves extending fromside to side of the case and supported on top of the partitions,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a case for files having its shelves slightly inclined downwardfrom the front, a drawer made with its bottom downwardlyinclined towardthe rear to correspond with the inclined shelves, as set forth.

This inclined bottom can,

4:. A case for files, having its bottom and shelves slightly'inclineddownward from the front and a dust-strip dependingfrom the casetop orthe shelves across the drawer-space,in combination with a drawer havingrollers projecting below its bottom, this latter being made with adownward incline from front to rear to correspond with the inclinedcase-bottom or shelves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a case for files, a drawer having a locking-latch and a series ofrollers projecting below its bottom and a spring-frame mounted above itsbottom and projecting behind the drawer, in combination with thecase-bottom or the shelves having a receptacle for the locking-latch andthe back of the case, substantially as set forth.

6. In a case for files, a drawer having a locking-latch in its bottom,in combination with the case-bottom or the shelves having a receptaclefor the latch of the drawer, substantially as set forth.

7. In a case for files, a drawer having a flexible flap mounted in itsback, with a hooking-edge projecting above the top thereof, incombination with the case having a projection depending at the frontfrom the shelves or the case-top and extending slightly through thedraweropening, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a case for files, a drawer having a flexible flap mounted in itsback and provided with a downwardly-inclined hookingedge projectinoutward beyond the drawers back, in combination with the case-front orwith any other drawer of the same, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

9. In a case for files, a roller mounted in its back upper edge, incombination with the top plate or shelves of the case, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

10. In a case for files, a drawer having an air-tight-fitting closingdevice at its f ront, substantially as set forth.

11. In a case for files, drawers provided with an automatic deviceadapted to partially push the drawers out of their respectivepigeon-holes, in combination with a locking device interposed betweenthe case and each drawer of the same, as set forth.

12. In a case for files, a drawer having a self-compressing deviceoperated by the closing and opening of the drawer, respectively,

set forth.

1.3. In a case for files, a drawer having a locking-latch and a seriesof rollers projecting below its bottom, and a spring-frame mounted inthe drawers bottom and projecting behind the back of the same, andhaving a series of rollers journaled in its outward-projecting portion,in combination with the case-bottom and shelves having a receptacle forthe locking-latch and the back of the case, substantially as set forth.

1+L. In a case for files, shelves having a downwardly-inclined flange atthe front cut away a slight distance from the pigeon-hole partitions, incombination with a drawer having a backward]y-turned flange on each sideof its front, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a case for files, a shelf having a downwardly-turned flange atthe front, in combination with a drawer having a stop or hooking deviceadapted to engage with the rear face only of the shelf-flange,substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a case for files, a latch mounted in the front of the drawer andhaving a hook formed in its handle, in combination with a booking deviceattached to the back of each other drawer of the case, whereby saiddrawer may be hung in front of any compartment except its own,substantially as set forth.

17. In a case for files, a movable hook or stop mounted in the rear ofthe drawer and adapted to engage with a suitable stop at the front ofthe case and to hold the drawer thereon in practically the same positionwhich the said drawer occupied in the case, substantially as set forth.

18. In a case for files, a drawer having a groove in its bottom for acompressing-clamp, in combination with a series of rollers on each sidethereof, depending from or attached to the said bottom, whereby thespace needed for the clamp is utilized also for the rollers,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a case for files. a shelf projecting in front beyond the uprightpartitions, whereby as the drawer is pushed in position and the frontthereof is in line with said partition the top of the same is forcedunder the projecting edge of the shelf and forms a tight jointtherewith, as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a case for files, a shelf projecting in front beyond the uprightpartitions and having a flange depending therefrom and in line with thefront edge of the partitions, whereby as the drawer is pushed inposition in the case the head of the same is forced under the projectingedge of the shelf and in close contact with the said depending flange,thus forming a tight joint both above and in rear of the said drawershead, as set forth.

21. In a case for files, a strip of felt or any other elastic material,in combination with a flange depending from the shelf, whereby as thedrawer is pushed in position in its case an air-tight joint anddust-proof connection is formed between the drawer and the shelf, as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, before twowitnesses, this 31st day of December, 1889.

HORACE JOSEPH l'llO F FMAN.

\Vitnesses:

EMILE DUMAIS, ARTHUR TOWER.

IIO

